Desk tray



1927- P. MATHEWSON DESK TRAY FiledAug. 28. 1923 INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS J I Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PAUL MATHEWSON, OF DURHAM, CONNECTICUT.

DESK TRAY.

Application filed August 28, i923. Serial No. 659,758.

This invention relates to a desk tray with 'the object in View of providing a tray which will be simple, inexpensive to manufacture, durable and effective.

Another object is to provide a desk tray tions, so that the contents of the tray will.

lie flat upon the bottom with the front edges elevated or raised, thereby permitting the contents to be readily grasped, lifted and removed.

Another object is to provide a desk tray having a bottom, one portion of which is inclined forwardly and upwardly and another portion forwardly and downwardly.

Another object is to provide certain improvements in the form, construct-ion and arrangement of the parts whereby the above named and other objects may be effectively attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a desk tray of my improved form.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of the tray.

The desk tray comprises side walls denoted by 1, 2, which are cut away at 3 to expose the contents of the tray, a rear wall by 4 and a bottom by 5. The walls and bottom of the tray are shown in the present instance as formed of metal, the edges of which are turned over to reinforce the same, but I wish it understood that the tray may be composed of wood, fibre or other suitable material. The front portion of the bottom 5 is provided with pads 6, 6 of rubber or other similar material, while the rear portion of the bottom has supporting pads 7, 7. The pads 6, 6, at the front, are preferably larger in diameter and thicker in height than the pads 7, 7, so that the bottom 5 of the tray will assume an inclined position. The front portion of the bottom 5 is bent downwardly and forwardly as shown at 8, thereby allowing the contents of the tray to lie flat upon the bottom with the front edges of the same elevated or raised a sufficient distance to enable the user to readily grasp and remove the contents shown in Fig. 3.

' The portion 8 is so arranged with respect to the bottom as to guide the fingers of the user toward the papers in the tray and also guard the fingers against colliding with the bottom. Furthermore, this downwardly and forwardly inclined portion 8 prevents the user from gripping the bottom of the tray when the papers are about to be removed therefrom.

The pads 6 serve to support the weight of the papers resting on the bottom of the tray and prevents the same from bending or curving the portion 8, thereby maintaining a constant angle between the bottom and portion 8 and keeping the edge adjacent the surface of the table or desk upon which the tray rests.

In order that the contents of the tray may be yieldingly held against unintentional displacement, I provide a retainer 9 of UP shaped formation, mounted to oscillate in bearings 10, 10, fixed to the rear wall 4:. The retainer 9 is provided with springs 11, 11 for placing a tension thereon.

It is evident that various changes may be made in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is 1. A desk tray comprising, a rearwardly inclined bottom having a lip extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, side and rear walls uprising from the bottom, and pads disposed on the bottom, certain of said pads being disposed near the junction of the bottom and lip, for supporting the tray with the lip adjacent the desk upon which it rests.

2. A desk tray comprising, a rearwardly inclined bottom having a lip extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, side and rear walls uprising from the bottom, and resilient pads disposed on the bottom, certain of said pads being disposed near the junction of the bottom and lip, for supporting the tray with the lip adjacent the desk upon which it rests.

3. A desk tray comprising, a rearwardly inclined bottom having a lip extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, side and rear walls uprising from the bottom, pads from the tray, as

tom and lip, for supporting the tray Withthe lip adjacent the desk upon which it rests,

hearings on said rear Walls a rectangular Wire retainer having one side journaled in said bearings, and springs on said side for yieldingly holding the retainer in contact With the contents on the bottomof the tray against unintentional displacement.

4. A desk tray comprising, a reartvard ly as any .HlVBIltlOIl, I have i s gned rnyname this inclined ibottom having a lip extendin forwardly iand downwardly therefrom, side and rear wallsuprising :from the bottom, resili- 15 exit rpads disposed on the bottom certain of said pads being disposed near the junction of the bottom and lip, for supporting the tray with the lip adjacent the desk upon which it rests, hearings on said rear Walls, rectangular Wire ,zretainer having one side journaled in said bearings, and springs on said side for yieldingly holding the retainer in contact With the contents on the bottom of the tray against unintentional displace- I ment.

In testimony, that 11 claim the it'oregoing 22 day of August, 1923.

1 PAUL iMATHEWSON. 

